Important decisions loom over Chico’s Farmers’ Markets >> A5
Chico State’s Independen t S t u de n t Ne w spa pe r , since 1975
Wednesday December 8, 2010 Volume 65 Issue 15 1 free copy per person additional copies 50¢
Department mourns 2 deaths Student to receive honorary certificate in wake of death
SPORTS >> B1
Born to run
Stephanie Consiglio STAFF WRITER
Jodie Yamaguchi, a teaching credential student, died due to a brain tumor Nov. 17. Yamaguchi was only at Chico State for a short while, but her time here made an impact on everyone in the program, said
The Wildcats place fifth at the NCAA Division II national cross-country meet
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Holiday tones
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones to bring r blizzard of world music
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Maggie Payne, associate dean of the College of Communication and Education. Yamaguchi was diagnosed with a brain tumor while attending Humboldt State, according to a press release from Chico State. She graduated from Humboldt State with a degree in history and came to Chico State to complete her teaching credential. Yamaguchi will be honored at the teaching credential recognition ceremony Dec. 16 where she >> please see COURAGEOUS | A6
Unknown causes in student’s death Lindsay Woychick STAFF WRITER
Family and friends mourn the loss of Chico State teaching credential student Teresa Walsh, who died of unknown causes in her Concord home during Thanksgiving break. Walsh’s family thinks the death was caused by severe trauma suffered during an epileptic seizure,
according to a blog entry by sister Erin Walsh. Teresa Walsh, 24, graduated from Chico State with a bachelor’s degree in arts and liberal studies in May 2010 and began the teaching credential program this fall, said her mother, Laurie Walsh. Being a teacher was always Teresa Walsh’s plan, and her education for it began at Diablo Valley College in Concord, where she grew up. She transferred to Chico State in 2007 where she
joined Erin Walsh, Laurie Walsh said. Teresa Walsh, the youngest of three sisters, was particularly close with Erin, Laura Walsh said. “They were like two peas in a pod,” she said. Her relationship with her family and friends was something she appreciated, said friend Jackie O’Donnell in an e-mail interview. “She had tons of friends and loved them all,” she said. “She loved her family like crazy and always >> please see MOURNED | A6
College of Business honored Heidi Parodi STAFF WRITER
Chico State’s College of Business placed 10th in the Excellent Business Schools category ranked by Eduniversal this year. The fi rst year Chico o State ranked on Eduniverrsal’s list was 2008 when n it was placed 50th in thee three-palms category, y, also known as the Excelllent Business Schoolss category, said Willie Hop-kins, dean of the Collegee of Business. Chico ranked d 21st on the list in 2009. Eduniversal is an orgaanization from Paris with h international presencee that helps rank the top p 1,000 business schoolss in the world, he said. d The organization offers the rankings to help prospective students decide which school to attend. The organization sends a link to the deans of the business schools around the world to view information on all the other business schools, Hopkins said. The deans themselves determine which business schools have a good international reputation and are overall the best, then send votes off to the organization. The reason the ranking this year is higher than last year is because of the excellent program, Hopkins said. The college is known for its information technology and entrepreneurship programs, as well as having professors with strong credentials. The schools are ranked by quality of one to five palms, he said. Five palms indicate the highest quality, and one palm indicates lesser quality. Chico State was the highest ranked California State University in the three-palms category, Hopkins said. “The ranking attracts employers and it attracts donors,” Hopkins said. “It’s bragging rights.” The professors in the College of Business are of top quality, said Chris Yost-Bremm, a graduate in business administration and president of the graduate business association. “Some of them have a lot of real world experience, some of them have pretty heavy academic credentials,” he said. The College of Business >> please see PALMS | A7
THE ORION • ALMENDRA NDR CARPIZO
DOOR-TO-DOOR SANTA Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano de Aztlan members walk through the streets of Hamilton City while knocking on doors and giving out more than 500 presents to underprivileged children. Julia Vazquez STAFF WRITER
Christmas came early this year for the children of Hamilton City thanks to a group of students. Members of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan and student volunteers collaborated with the Hamilton City Fire Department Saturday to distribute Christmas gifts to lowincome families.
More than 25 students participated, and 15 of those were MEChA members. For the past 30 years, MEChA at Chico State has focused on giving gifts to families in need during the holidays, said Sarait Escorza, a MEChA member and volunteer. “Hamilton City Fire Department relies on MEChA to go back every year,” she said. MEChA has been
planning the event and organizing fundraising ideas since October, she said. Adriana Ocampo-Torres, a MEChA member, helped coordinate the event. “We put it on every year for families in need, and our goal is to give as much as we can to the kids,” Ocampo-Torres said. This year, MEChA raised more than $1,200
in monetary donations from the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center and by selling food on campus, in addition to toy donations, she said. MEChA was only able to collect $500 last year, including contributions from members, Escorza said. “The MEChA organization is about giving back to the community, and all the hard work is worth >> please see GIFT | A2
Students get more to share Walter Ford ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Students who vote in next year’s Associated Students elections will have a more direct voice about how their fees are spent. In a 6-1 vote, the Government Affairs Committee passed an increase in revenue sharing that will allow each student that votes in A.S. elections to decide where $15 from the activity fee fund will be spent, said A.S. President Amro Jayousi. “The revenue sharing program is one of the only programs that A.S. has that is a direct investment by students,” he said. “All students have to do is vote and they have a voice on where funds go.” The increase will go into effect for the A.S. elections in April 2011, said Jon Slaughter, director of A.S. programs and
the increase in revenue government affairs. Students will be able to sharing. “I feel a little uncomfortdonate $15 to one student organization, $7.50 to two able with it because it is student organizations or $5 an increase when we don’t to three student organiza- have a ton of money,” Long said. “We need to talk about tions, he said. The increase will allow it more so everyone makes the right an estidecision.” mated Stu$20,000 All students dent more for have to do is vote organistudent zations organiand they have a will have zations, voice on where increased Slaughter budgets, said. If the funds go.” better decision Amro Jayousi avenues is made to A.S. president for fundincrease the funds, the increase will raising, more outreach be included in budget plan- efforts and more money for events if the increase is ning for the next year. The extra $5 is necessary approved, Jayousi said. The increase in revenue because student organizations have increased from sharing could provide more 81 to 122 since 2008, he incentive for students to vote, he said. said. The last time there was Director of University Affairs London Long a revenue sharing increase cast the one vote against was in 2006 when it was
raised from $8 to $10, Slaughter said. The change did not result in a significant increase in voter turnout. A total of $41,070 was allotted to 122 student organizations in 2010, he said. Of that money, 83 percent was used by the groups designated to receive it. A pamphlet that will educate student organizations about how funds can be used is being developed by Denise Crosswhite, A.S. programs and government affairs coordinator, Slaughter said. The pamphlet will assist students in claiming their funds. “We have been very aggressive out of this office letting students know you got money,” he said. “It’s not a big hoop to jump through to get the money, either.” Walter Ford can be reached at wford@theorion.com